THE TORCH: October 2005

THE BOTTOM LINE

Hugh M. Spoljaric, President

Kingston Teachers’
Federation

Giving and
Receiving

The Pajama
Program spearheaded by KTF Vice President for Elementary Kathy Werner has
brought accolades from near and far. As an opening day KTF response to the
misery of Hurricane Katrina on the gulf coast, you, our members, responded to
the call. After boxes of pajamas, socks, flip-flops, and children’s books were
collected from the schools and secured in Suzanne Jordan’s garage, ALLWAYS
MOVING of Kingston transported the goods free of
charge to the waiting larger trucks in WestchesterCounty.
Genevieve Piturro of the Pajama Program accompanied
the goods to Louisiana
and kept a journal. Here is the excerpt from September 29.

It’s just after midnight when we arrived in Monroe, Louisiana.
We are all exhausted-emotionally. At 9 am, our truck arrived and we had 10
excited and enthusiastic volunteers ready to unload. Everyone was waiting to
see the thousands of pajamas from New
York City! And the boxes just kept coming out of the
truck-it was endless. I saw it all on the loading dock, but even I was
overwhelmed when I saw it coming off a tractor-trailer.

We visited several shelters and met many,
many families. Some people now seem to have hope while
others are still afraid and alone. I want to hold the second group and promise
them it will be ok again.

We still saw mattresses on gym floors, but
there are fewer. The sight of big Tupperware containers with each person’s
belongings stopped me inmy tracks.

Some people have found jobs and are
calling Monroe home now, some will drive home to
New Orleans
this weekend and see what they will see. When they tell you that, they look at
you like you might tell them it’s all been a bad dream. What do you say? Good
Luck? That seems trite so you say nothing and try to convey comfort and
compassion as you stare back and nod.

The children are wonderful as always. They
smile and laugh with us-their new friends who have brought them presents.

At the last shelter we visited tonight, I
was tired and looked for a place to sit quietly. As the crowd thinned out it
seemed every child, mother and father, had at least one pair of pajamas and
even a book or two to take to bed with them. I was glad we visited them close
to bedtime. As I stood to leave, three little girls came up behind me and said,
“Did you bring these from far away for us?” I said we did and they wrapped
their arms around me waist-high, and gave me one of the biggest bear hugs I’ve
ever had. “Thank you,” they whispered. At that moment I would have carried all
the pajamas from New York
on my back for that hug. Forget the truck.

But
today, we all agree that the highest high came not from one of the littlest
kids…it came from a 77 year old kid-at-heart. When we arrived at one of the
shelters and before we even had a chance to unload the boxes, we turned to
discuss our plan. The next thing we saw was an elderly woman struggling to pull
a pajama top over her clothing and button it up. “It fits…you can’t have it,
it’s mine!” She laughed with a young girl who apparently also had her eye on
the same set. We were stunned…and she was delighted with herself. In her new
shiny pajama top she asked us, “How do I look?” Of course we all made a fuss
over her. She was an evacuee from New
Orleans who just wouldn’t give in to her plight.
Instead, she said it was all going to work out ok soon enough and she was
making the best of it…and making new friends in the process.

I guess we love
children for their innocence and pure joy and the way they make us remember how
life can be if we let it. But some people keep that child with them forever.
They are the lucky ones. And tonight they needed pajamas, too.

It feels good
to make a difference. As teachers, we learn that many times we receive more
back than we ever give away. It gives purpose and meaning to our lives and we,
unlike many professions, have the opportunity every day.

And, that’s the
Bottom Line.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Due to a conflict with a delayed
faculty meeting schedule for October, the KTF General Membership meeting
scheduled for October 20 has been moved to October 27. It will still be held in
the KHS Cafeteria with the only agenda item being the election of delegates and
alternates to the NYSUT and AFT Representative Assemblies. Voting will be from
3 pm to 4:15 pm.

Last year in Roslyn, Long Island, the Superintendent of Schools and the
Business manager were charged with the theft of school district funds in the millions.
As a result, district auditing practices changed. This past spring, employees
had to sign for one of their paychecks. Now, a new
verification document, the Salary Acceptance Form must be verified in school
districts. All employees will have to sign the form. The information for the
form is processed through a BOCES program called ‘Finance Manager’ that lists
your salary status. If you believe that the information is correct. Sign the
document and return it to your Principal. If you believe the form contains
errors, specifically note the errors on the document and return the form to the
office of Joe Previll at the CioniBuilding. The form will be checked and
adjusted if necessary and returned to you for your signature.

TEACHER CONTRACT CLARIFICATIONS

Unless
otherwise noted, specified, or agreed to, all items are referenced forward
beginning with the 2005-06 school year.

In-service and
Graduate credit salary increases are credited in groups of 3 credit hours (45
seat hours). The district and the KTF agree to round off the dollar amount per
credit in each year of the contract. In 2005-06, the number ($110.35) will be
rounded down; in 2006-07, the number ($114.22) will be rounded up, and it will
alternate in the same fashion for each year of the contract.

The definition
of longevity for salary purposes is as follows: Longevity is calculated as the
total number of years of service to the Kingston Schools in the capacity as a
teacher unit member. With the exception of permanent substitute status that was
not extended by a probationary appointment, it shall also include all time in
those capacities as a teacher unit member whether it is consecutive or
interrupted time.

Per diem substitute teaching time and employment time in other
areas or in other district units shall not be counted in calculating longevity
for salary purposes.

Longevity
shall be based on the completion of 20 years of service and 30 years of
service. A year of service shall be granted in the same manner or entitlement
to moves on the salary schedule. All increases in longevity payments shall be
on July 1 of each year.

The selection
of a 125 plan administrator is imminent. The 125 plan should be available and
in effect by January 1, 2006.

SCUBA DIVINGTheKingston Underwater Explorers, KUE, will hold
their annual scuba certification course again this year. George Campbell of
Deep Six Underwater Systems of New Paltz will teach
the course that results in certification for life in
both PADI and NAUI.
The cost of the instruction is $395. and
includes the use of all equipment, classroom materials, and insurance for the
duration of the course by Divers Alert Network. The cost for students, faculty,
scouts, firefighters, and law enforcement officers is $370. A $50 check to Kingston Underwater
Explorers will ensure a space in the class. The balance is payable in two equal
installments upon course completion.
Pool dives at KHS will be: Sat., Nov.5, 4-6 pm; Sun., Nov.
6, 1:30-6 pm; Sat., Nov. 12, 1-6 pm; and Sun., Nov. 13, 11-3 pm.
In addition, there will be two dives at Lake Mohonk and at Lake Minnewaska in
the spring.
For more infromation, go to
www.deep-six.com; email to: dsusdive@aol.com; or call 255-7446.
School contacts are Ken Brett and Nick Avossa
at KHS.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
The NYSUT Education and Learning Trust(ELT)
offers a 15 hour pre-candidacy program that helps teachers to prepare their
applications.
ELT also offers a three credit graduate course that guides
participants through the application process, helps organize time, and prepares
the videotape and portfolios. More information is available on the NYSUT
website at www.nysut.org.
The KTF contract provides for an increase in salary for
those who attain National Certification.

MHTCMINI-GRANT
HONORS

A reception was
held at the Locust Grove on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie
on Tuesday, September 20, to honor Mid-Hudson Teachers’ Center Mini-Grant
participants.

James Scheffel of Miller was invited to showcase his work and to
be honored by the MHTC at the event.

And, the MHTC has
acquired a license that allows teachers, parents, and students to access an
interactive calendar that is loaded with wonderful information, lesson plan
ideas, biographies, links to websites, and many other interesting and valuable
topics for educators. Visit: http://mhtc.farr-integratingit.net

UFCU
WORKSHOP

A personal
Financial Management Workshop will be available to Ulster Federal Credit Union
members by Certified Financial Planners Kevin Ginty
and Brian Ginty on October 25, November 1, and
November 8, 6pm-9:15pm at the Quality Inn (formerly the Ramada Inn). The
seminar tuition is $59 and includes a spouse or guest at no additional charge,
but is free to the first 35 members to register. A materials fee of $45 per
couple, $30 for UFCU members, payable to the instructor, will be collected on
the first night of the workshop. It includes a 175 page workbook and study
aids.

To register, contact the UFCU at 339-5544,
ext. 132.

ESP RECOGNITION DAY

November 18
has been designated as Educational Support Professionals Day in New YorkState. It’s a day to pay tribute to the
teaching assistants, secretaries, and monitors that embody the staff of our
educational community.

Meanwhile, the KESP await their first
meeting with the mediator in their efforts to settle a contract that expired
nearly 1 ½ years ago.